Filing-cabinet



-C. R. SOUTHWELL.

1 ,389,279.- Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

c. R. souTHwELL.

FILING CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED IULY I 1920.

1,389,279. Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES n. soU'rHwELL,

or SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

FILING-CABINET.

' Application inea July 1,

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CriAnLns R. SOUTH WELL, a citizen of the United States, resid-r ing at San Antonio, in the county ofBeXar and State of Texas, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in F iling- Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in filing cabinets especially adapted to receive blue prints, maps, tracings and other large papers.

An important object of this invention is to provide a filing cabinet ofthe class described having .novel means whereby blue prints and other large papersfmay be filed away without the necessity of folding 'or creasing the same, so that the blue prints will be maintained in good-condition for an increased period of time.

A further object of the'invention is to provide Aa filing cabinet ofthe class described having a folding table which may be readily adjusted to an operative position when it is desired to inspect the blue prints upon being removed from the cabinet.r

A further object of the invention is to pro`- vide a filing cabinet of the class described which is simple, desirable in use and cheap to manufacture. 1

Further objectsy and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application andV in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

F igiire 1 is aperspective of the improved filing cabinet with thefolding table thereof in an operative position,

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the filing cabinet closed, l Y

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the improved tiling cabinet, Y '1 Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 4-1 of Fio. 3,

Fig; 5 is a detail section through one of the sheet supporting and engaging members embodied in the invention,

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the blue print or sheet engaging sections detached.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 generally designates the improved cabinet including vertical sides 11, a bottom 12 Vand a i it will Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Allg'. 30, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 393,266.

rear wall 13 connecting the. side walls" and the bottom. lVth particular reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the bottom 12 is supported in spacedrelation to the floor byv a plurality of legs 14C which may be of any desired type. K The upper side of the case or cabinet is provided with a cover 15 horizontally hinged along itsrear longitudinal edge to the upper end of the back 18 by a pair of spaced hinges 1G. The upper end ofthe cabinet is provided at its front f side with a transverse strip 17 which serves to connect the vertical sides 1l for bracing the same. The transverse strip 17y is also provided with a lock 18 which is adapted to engage a keeper 1 9 of the horizontally hinged top 15 so that Asaidtop may be se# curely locked when desired for protecting the contents of the cabinet.' i

"With particular reference to Figs. 3 and 1, be noted that the side.7 walls 11 are provided at their yupper 'ends with transverselyVA extending 'strips 20 which form shoulders adapted 'for supporting one or more sheet carrying devices 21'. It might be stated at this point that a filing cabinet constructed in' accordance with this invention is especially adapted for receiving blue prints, maps and tracings, though itis obvious that the cabinet may be employed for .filing other records.

Each sheet carrying devicey 21 comprises a pair of elongated strips 22 having stifened fabric sheets 28 secured thereto by folding one edge of each fabric sheet over the same, as illustrated in Fig. In this manner each fabric sheet 23 is suspended from the elongated strips`A 22 so as to prevent possible tearing away of the sheets from the strips 22. Each pair of elongated strips is connected by a plurality ofspaced bolts 2etjeXtended through ali'ned l openings 25 in the strips and having en! gagementvwith winged nuts 26. rlfhenblu'er 5 prints, tracings or 'the like are provided along onel of their'edge portions with open# ings t'o'correspond with'A the openings 25, so that the'blue prints or tiacings may bey secured between the elongated strips 22. The blue prints, tracings, maps or the like may be added to from time to time by merely removing one of the strips 22 and applying additional blue prints to the bolts 211. By thus gripping the blue prints or the like between the strips 22, the same are securely held in position and are prevented from tearing. The stiffened fabric sheets 23 arranged on opposite sides of the blue prints and the like serve to protect the blue prints and form what might be termed covers for the same. The sheet carrying device 21 has its end portions extended beyond the covers 23 and resting upon the transverse shoulders 2O so as to support the blue prints in a proper position within the cabinet. Any desired number of blue prints or tracings may be carried by each member 21 and there may be as many members 21 as the capacity of the cabinet will allow. Vhen more than one sheet carrying device 21 is arranged within the cabinet, the same are arranged in parallel relation.

As 'illustrated in. Fig. 1, a drop table 27 is horizontally hinged along its upper edge to the under side of the transverse strip 17 by a pair of hinges 28. After one of the sheet carrying devices has been removed from the cabinet, the same may be laid upon the drop table 24 for inspecting the blue prints or other sheets carried by the same. The outer portion of the drop table `27 is supported by a pair of legs 29 hinged at their outer ends to the under side of the table by hinges 30. The intermediate portions of the legs 29 are connected by a transversely extending brace 31 which, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, is provided with an eye 32 to which is connect-ed one end of a chain 33. rl`he other end of the chain 33 is anchored to the under side of the table, as indicated at 34. It will be observed that the chain 33 limits the outward pivotal movement of the legs 29 upon arranging the table for use. Upon. returning the drop table to an inoperative position, Vas illustrated in Fig. 1, the legs are secured to the under side of the table by a pivoted latch 35 which may be rotated for engaging the transverse brace 31.

As the drop table is preferablymade of wood, the same is provided on its under side with a pair of strengthening dove-tailed strips 3G which prevent the table from warping. The inward movement of the table 27 is limited by a strip 37 extending across the bottom 12 so as to form a shoulder. The drop table may be locked to the side walls after being closed by a pair of catches 38 carried by the inner side of the table and engaging keepers 39 carried by the inner side of the side walls 11. vAccess may be had to the catches 38 through the top of the cabinet after elevating the cover 15 of the same. It is thus impossible for any one to gain access to the interior of the cabinet by elevating the door 27 Without first releasing the catches 38, and since the cover 15 is secured by the lock 18 unauthorized access to the catches 28 is impossible.

In the use of the invention, the blue prints are secured between the strips 22 by the bolts- 2li preparatory to lowering the blue prints into the cabinet. Upon being inserted intothe cabinet the blue prints are protected from dirt and injury. As set forth previously, as many sets of blueprints may be secured within the cabinet as the capacity of the cabinet will permit. The fabric cover sheets 23 serve to protect the blue prints or maps both while within the cabinet and while upon the drop table. A suitable index may be provided for indicating the arrangement of the various blue prints or maps within the several sheet car-- rying devices. Upon being withdrawn from the cabinet, one sheet carrying device does not interfere with the other sheet carrying devices which may be arranged within the cabinet. Y

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that such minor changes in construction and arrangement of parts may be made as will remain. within the spirit of the invention and the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a filing cabinet for blue prints and the like, the combination with side walls, a back and a bottom, of atransversely extending strip connecting the upper ends of said side walls, at the front thereof a cover horizontally hinged to the rear wall, a lock carried by said transversely extending strip and adapted for engaging said cover, a combined front wall and drop table horizontally hinged to said transversely extending strip, locking means carried by the inner side of said combined drop table and front wall and the inner sides of said side walls and accessible only when the cover vis in open position, and means to limit the inward movement of said combined front wall and drop table. -v

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES R. SOUTHWELL. [L s] 

